My 1964 Zenith AM-FM Radio Still Works

This vintage Zenith AM-FM radio was purchased in 1964. It was a gift to me as I recuperated from knee surgery the summer I graduated from high school. My parents were proud as they brought this radio to me at the hospital. And I was delighted that they were so thoughtful. The radio was a welcome gift. The radio not only helped me through that hospital stay but went with me to college, my first apartment; my first home after I was married, accompanied our family on our military travels, and is still my favorite radio.

The radio has a plastic case which somehow has resisted most damage. The dials are intact and work fine. The cord is still flexible and not really worn. This was one of the first radios to offer automatic frequency control. What a wonderful benefit. Once I found an FM station that I wanted to listen to I could just slide the little knob to lock in the station. A clock and alarm were built into the radio and were my primary alarm for years. I never allowed the alarm to activate. I could hear the mechanism click on several seconds before the alarm began. The tubes were warming up to sound the alarm and I would quickly turn the dial before the alarm began. The timer which allowed me to set it to play music for up to 60 minutes was great. Every night in college I set the music timer and drifted off to sleep to the sound of my favorite station. I don't eve remember hearing the timer shut off.

You still hear the tubes warming when the radio is first turned on. That is part of its charm. This radio carries so many wonderful memories for me as well as being a really great radio. I am sure my parents would not believe that I still have this radio or that it still plays. I have a hard time believing it myself at times since it traveled with our family for over thirty years during our military travels.

Vintage items are great. Not only do they project the style of the era during which they were produced but they stir memories and nostalgia in some as well as wonder in others. When I see these items in antique shops I am amazed at how well many of them performed compared to items produced today. There are many quality products being produced today too but it seems like most every item produced during the 1950s and 60s lasted quite a long time if cared for properly. This radio is very large, has a plastic case and looks rather fragile however I must say it has served me well.